As I'm write the front of potentially the most destructive cyclone in Australian history is sweeping in to make landfall between Cairns and Innisfail, Queensland. By mid this afternoon, it was too late to leave the area.
The Bureau of Metereology expects this to be "the most life-threatening storm in generations".
It will not be safe to be outdoors for the next 24 hours, and it is hitting now at high tide, in flood ravaged areas. A surge of 6.5 to 7.0 metres above the normal high tide is possible.
10,680 people are now in evac centres. About that many homes in Townsville are at risk of inundation from 12 metre waves.
I was in this part of the country, albiet briefly, about 5 months ago. It really is beautiful.
We'll see what the night brings.
Some years ago the former Queensland premier prayed for rain after a decade of drought. Now floods...
El Niño/La Niña-Southern Oscillation... happens in cycles, but appears to be getting worse. Alternating warming and cooling in the Pacific Ocean. El Niño in 1998 caused an estimated 16% of the world's reef systems to die.
Elsewhere... India is shivering through sub-zero temperatures, Brazil has the worst flooding in decades, and an epic winter storm is sweeping the central United States.
Where I am the heat is muggy. If I could spend all day in my jocks it'd be great. Summer didn't used to be like this...
What happened?
Dare we suspect... ?
Quoting a scientific paper:
"Observations show that the tropical El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) variability, after removing both the long term trend and decadal change of the background climate, has been enhanced by as much as 60% during the past 50 years. This shift in ENSO amplitude can be related to mean state changes in global climate."
The Bureau of Metereology expects this to be "the most life-threatening storm in generations".
It will not be safe to be outdoors for the next 24 hours, and it is hitting now at high tide, in flood ravaged areas. A surge of 6.5 to 7.0 metres above the normal high tide is possible.
10,680 people are now in evac centres. About that many homes in Townsville are at risk of inundation from 12 metre waves.
I was in this part of the country, albiet briefly, about 5 months ago. It really is beautiful.
We'll see what the night brings.
Some years ago the former Queensland premier prayed for rain after a decade of drought. Now floods...
El Niño/La Niña-Southern Oscillation... happens in cycles, but appears to be getting worse. Alternating warming and cooling in the Pacific Ocean. El Niño in 1998 caused an estimated 16% of the world's reef systems to die.
Elsewhere... India is shivering through sub-zero temperatures, Brazil has the worst flooding in decades, and an epic winter storm is sweeping the central United States.
Where I am the heat is muggy. If I could spend all day in my jocks it'd be great. Summer didn't used to be like this...
What happened?
Dare we suspect... ?
Quoting a scientific paper:
"Observations show that the tropical El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) variability, after removing both the long term trend and decadal change of the background climate, has been enhanced by as much as 60% during the past 50 years. This shift in ENSO amplitude can be related to mean state changes in global climate."
and from The Telegraph:
"Scientists say there is a likely climate change link to the current La Nina through higher sea surface temperatures. The world’s oceans and atmosphere have steadily warmed over recent decades and that warmth could be providing monsoons and storms with an extra kick.
A major global study in 2010, based on complex computer modelling, found that tropical cyclones will become stronger, with the intensity increasing between 2 and 11 percent by 2100.
And while in some regions, such as the western Pacific and around Australia, the average number of storms might decrease, the number of intense storms in the category 4 and 5 range will increase, along with wind speeds and the amount of rainfall. "
A major global study in 2010, based on complex computer modelling, found that tropical cyclones will become stronger, with the intensity increasing between 2 and 11 percent by 2100.
And while in some regions, such as the western Pacific and around Australia, the average number of storms might decrease, the number of intense storms in the category 4 and 5 range will increase, along with wind speeds and the amount of rainfall. "
Don't tell me you can see Jesus in bread - but we're all just imagining all this...
I got sick of that during the fires.
I got sick of that during the fires.
The Jesus freaks will deny global warming until they have no food, water or air to breathe.
ReplyDeleteFunny thing is... we are still on water restrictions from years of drought, even though it's also flooding in Victoria.
ReplyDeleteI was just reading some of the news about Yasi. That damned storm is huge and winds of 300km/hr is scary shit Magpie. I think Jesus better send some of that toast down your way to soak up some of the water he's left behind.
ReplyDeleteOne kind of wonders if we're headed towards the Mayan scenario and most of us will simply disappear under the weight of our own progress.
Take care and stay safe down there.
Thanks Bob
ReplyDelete